Wisdom teeth removal is a common procedure to remove wisdom teeth. Since most wisdom teeth are misaligned, most people need to have their wisdom teeth removed. Complete healing from removal can take several weeks or months.
X-rays of the teeth are often used to pinpoint the exact positions of the wisdom teeth that have not erupted through the gums. The dentist may provide x-rays to the oral surgeon to aid in the wisdom teeth removal.
The soft tissue and wisdom teeth are numbed with a local anesthetic. This is typically done by injection. In some cases, a sedating medication that induces sleep or a relaxed state will be used. Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is a common sedating medication used by oral surgeons.
If a wisdom tooth is impacted in the soft tissue, the oral surgeon will need to make an incision over the tooth to remove it. For the removal of a wisdom tooth impacted in bone, part of the bone may need to be removed. To keep the amount of bone removed to a minimum, the wisdom tooth may be removed in pieces.
Wisdom teeth removal is considered easier if done while the patient is young. The roots of the wisdom tooth become denser as the person ages. This can make extraction more difficult. Older adults who have wisdom teeth removed may have a longer recovery time.
The recovery from wisdom teeth removal begins with stopping the bleeding. The dentist or oral surgeon may instruct the patient to bite down on gauze to help stop the bleeding. The majority of bleeding typically subsides within several hours.
The patient may be instructed to take over-the-counter pain relievers and apply ice if necessary for facial swelling. Antibiotics may be given before or after the procedure. The patient is typically required to take all the antibiotics as prescribed.
The oral surgeon may instruct the patient to rinse the mouth with salt water or mouth rinse. The patient may experience some drainage from where the tooth was extracted. The patient should ask the oral surgeon what to expect and what is considered abnormal and requires further treatment.
Dry socket is a common complication of the extraction of teeth including wisdom teeth. A dry socket is the lack or loss of the blood clot at the site of the extraction. This can cause pain. Dry socket requires the administration of medication by the oral surgeon.
The person may have a restricted diet following wisdom teeth removed. A liquid diet may be suggested for that day. The oral surgeon may recommend that the person avoids hot liquids and eats only soft foods for the first few days after having wisdom teeth removal.
